Video: Former Marseille Midfielder Critical of Tuchel for Giving Players Days off Leading to Positive Coronavirus Cases on the Squad

PIRAEUS, GREECE - SEPTEMBER 18: Mathieu Valbuena of Olympiacos celebrates after he scores his sides second goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League group B match between Olympiacos FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Karaiskakis Stadium on September 18, 2019 in Piraeus, Greece. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

When discussing the six players who contracted the coronavirus, it’s a divisive topic. 

There’s plenty of criticism going towards them for going on vacation during a pandemic. Others defend the group stating how easy it is to obtain the virus; furthermore, the players contracted the virus while on vacation with their families and not somewhere like a nightclub. 

Nonetheless, former Olympique de Marseille midfielder Mathieu Valbuena was on Top of the Foot and went in a different direction with his criticism. Instead of going after the players, Valbuena went after manager Thomas Tuchel. 

“There’s one thing I don’t understand. I will come back to those days off. This choice was validated by Tuchel and not Leonardo. And I do not understand that we can give them ten days when you have a championship to prepare,” Valbuena said. “In addition behind, we find ourselves with six players who tested positive for coronavirus. I don’t understand the justification for the bubble. They have had enough of the holidays before the Champions League!”

“On top of that, you postpone a match against Lens, and you anger the president, and rightly so. And you come back. You have six positive players. Whether it’s 3 or 10 days, you can still catch the COVID. But by lengthening, you increase the risks,” Valbuena said. “I don’t understand why ten days. Why, because you were in the Champions League final? Have you been in a bubble? I don’t understand. For me, it’s nonsense.”

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Tags Mathieu Valbuena Thomas Tuchel
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